President Tsai meets Paraguayan Minister of Industry and Commerce Gustavo Leite
On the morning of June 15 while meeting a delegation led by Paraguayan Minister of Industry and Commerce Gustavo Leite, President Tsai Ing-wen said that continuing to strengthen bilateral economics, trade, and industrial cooperation will yield long-term benefits for both Taiwan and Paraguay. She then said she believes that this bilateral friendship, based on "steadfast diplomacy based on mutual assistance for mutual benefits," will withstand the test of time.
President Tsai said that Minister Leite is an old friend of Taiwan. Last year alone, she said, she had the opportunity to meet with Minister Leite twice, and was happy to see him leading a visiting delegation once again.
The president noted that Minister Leite plays a key role in Paraguay's external economics and trade affairs, and that the Paraguayan economy has recently performed well, with a growth rate of over 4% last year. She said that Minister Leite had devoted much effort and made great contributions to Paraguay's continued progress.
The president pointed out that on this trip Minister Leite will convene, in conjunction with Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs, the first joint committee meeting on the Taiwan-Paraguay Economic Cooperation Agreement, and explain Paraguay's investment environment and commercial opportunities to Taiwan enterprises. President Tsai said she believes that both sides have gained a great deal through this interaction and Taiwan enterprises have developed a greater interest in the Paraguayan market, encouraging them to take steps to invest there.
The president pointed out that bilateral trade between Taiwan and Paraguay has made great strides over the past few years, with Taiwan's import quota for Paraguayan beef now exceeding 10,000 metric tons per year. She noted that the Taiwan-Paraguay Economic Cooperation Agreement, signed last year, also went into effect in February of this year.
President Tsai said that continuing to strengthen economic, trade, and industrial relations between Taiwan and Paraguay will yield long-term benefits for both countries. She particularly hopes that, with close bilateral cooperation, Taiwan will be able to utilize Paraguay as a base to develop global markets to create prosperity through mutual assistance for mutual benefits.
The president emphasized that in addition to the shared values of freedom and democracy, Taiwan and Paraguay have long promoted cooperative projects in various areas. She said that through reciprocal visits by the respective heads of state as well as a number of ministerial-level talks, Taiwan and Paraguay have reached a consensus to use such projects to create better opportunities for cooperation.
The president closed by saying that she believes that this bilateral friendship, based on "steadfast diplomacy based on mutual assistance for mutual benefits," will withstand the test of time. She also wished the Paraguayan delegation an informative and rewarding visit that would continue to create even more commercial opportunities.